Roundwood stump processor

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for severing and processing trees into sectioned pulpwood bolts includes an extendable head-reach mechanism pivotally supported on a mobile vehicle for arcuate horizontal movement and vertical elevational movement about and with respect to the machine. The head-reach mechanism supports at its outer end (a) a processing unit including tree grasping shearing debranching means and feed mechanism and (b) a storage magazine for pulpwood and unloading means.

[ 1 Feb. 22, 1972 United States Patent McColl [54] ROUNDWOOD STUMPPROCESSOR Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost AnorneyBeveridge & De Grandi[72] Inventor: Bruce J. McColl, Whitby, Ontario, Canada [73] Assignee:Owens-Illinois, Inc.

[22] Filed:

ABSTRACT Feb. 12, 1970 Apparatus for severing and processing trees intosectioned pulpwood bolts includes an extendable head-reach mechanismpivotally supported on a mobile vehicle for arcuate horizontal movementand vertical elevational movement about and with respect to the machine.The head-reach mechanism supports at its outer end (a) a processing unitincluding tree grasping shearing debranching means and feed mechanismand (b) a storage magazine for pulpwood and unloading means.

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ROUNDWOOD STUMP PROCESSOR This invention relates to tree harvesting andin particular to a machine for severing and processing trees intopulpwood at the stump location and the material handling of pulpwood toprimary landings in the forest areas.

BACKGROUND In present pulpwood operations in forest areas, the manualfelling of trees by chainsaw is, generally speaking, still the order ofthe day. Subsequent to such manual felling, the trees are usuallydebranched and then skidded to a secondary landing for furtherprocessing and from where conventional transportation of thesectionalized trees may begin. However, recent improvements in suchforest area operations have been provided by the advent of the forwardertype of material handling machine as disclosed in my Canadian Pat. No.659,445 ofMar. 12th, 1963.

In combination with forwarders, trees which are felled manually orotherwise are debranched at the stump location and usually sectionedinto 8-foot bolts and then bunchedat the primary landing, i.e., some 30feet from the stump location. The forwarder gathers and loads the boltsand transports them over the cut areas to the secondary landing, i.e.,on or adjacent to a branch road where the load is transferred by theforwarder to conventional truck transportation.

The object of this invention is to present a logical and novel stepforward for a wide range of present forest production operations. Thisis achieved by providing a machine for (a) severing a tree from itsstump; (b) debranching and sectionalizing the tree bole into desiredbolt lengths; (c) collecting the bolts into a magazine'as they aresectioned and then (d) depositing a full-magazine load at the primarylanding in an orderly pile which can subsequently be transported to thesecondary landing, for example by forwarder machines.

According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for processingtrees comprises a high mobility, ground traversing vehicle; a head-reachmechanism mounted on one end of the vehicle and being pivotallyconnected thereto at its inner end for both vertical and horizontalmovement with respect to the vehicle; a tree processing unit mounted atthe outer end of the head-reach mechanism and including means to (a)grasp and sever a tree from its stump, (b) debranch the severed tree and(c) sectionalize the debranched tree into bolts of a desired length; andmeans carried by the processing unit for receiving storing anddepositing the pulpwood bolts.

Although the roundwood operations described in this application can berelated to any desired length of pulpwood bolt, the disclosure by way ofexample will be directed to 8-foot pulpwood.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the machine according to the inventionand illustrates the processing unit approaching a tree graspingposition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the processor in a raisedposition;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the processor unit shown in FIGS. 1and 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the processor unit as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view, partly cut away, of one housing of the processorunit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view in section of one housing of the processorand taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are elevation views, partly in section of a helical cutterand feed roll respectively of the processor unit;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the processor unit in theFIG. I position;

FIG. 11 isan enlarged perspective view of the processor unit in the FIG.2 position;

FIG. 12 is an elevation view in cross section of the actuating means forthe magazine feed system;

FIGS. 12A to 12C are plan views in cross section of the actuating meansof FIG. 11 and illustrate three operative positions of the mechanism;

FIGS. l3, l4 and 15 are plan views of the storage magazine in thevertical processing position showing the relationship between theactuating means of FIG. 12 and the cradle arms of the magazine;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIGS. 13-15 and shows the magazine whenfully loaded in either vertical or horizontal position; and

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 but showing the magazine unloadingin its horizontal position.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION As shown in FIG. 1 the invention includes ahigh-mobility vehicle generally indicated at l capable of travellingover difficult terrain in the forest where cutting operations takeplace. One end of the vehicle 1 supports a head-reach mechanism 2 forreaching out to a tree in a stand thereof, the tree subsequently beinggrasped and severed from its stump by a processor unit 3 secured to theouter end of the head-reach mechanism. Referring to FIG. 2, a storagemeans in the form of a magazine 4 is pivotally attached to the processorunit 3 for receiving and collecting 8-foot pulpwood bolts as they exitfrom the processing unit 3. Although the invention is not limited to aspecific type of chassis, FIGS. I and 2 illustrate the preferred formthereof in a center frame articulated chassis such as that disclosed inCanadian Pat. No. 659,445 of Mar. 12, 1963. Alternately, an articulatedchassis of the illustrated type could also utilize a positive tractionsystem as shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,8lOofAug. 15th, 1967.

The use of the present invention in tree harvesting operations replacesthe manual felling, debranching, cutting to length and bunching at thestump area. Advantageously, however, the machine 1 will operate mosteconomically in combination with one or more stump processors and aforwarder machine, a sample 5 thereof being shown in the background ofFIG. 1. The machine 1 may therefore be considered one element in a twomachine system (forwarder and stump processor) both machines utilizing acommon chassis. When used in this manner, there is no need for havingmen on the ground during tree harvesting operations. I

In accordance with the illustrations of FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine I ismaneuvered to a point adjacent a stand of trees and the head-reachmechanism 2 is swung so processor unit 3 is positioned against a tree.The tree is then grasped, severed by the processor and the processor iselevated to its raised position of FIG. 2, the magazine 4 being loweredto an operative position to receive processed bolts from the unit 3.When the magazine is full, the magazine 4 is moved to its FIG. Iposition and the load is deposited at a primary landing 6. The forwardermachine 5 then picks up the bundles of bolts at the primary landings 6and, when loaded, (FIG. 1) transports the load to a secondary landingfor transfer to conventional transport.

VEHICLE AND HEAD-REACH MECHANISM The vehicle portion of machine 1 hasfore-and-aft frame sections 10 and 12 respectively, joined together byan articu lated joint preferably of the type shown in my above-mentionedCanadian Pat. No. 659,445. Both frame sections 10 and 12 are supportedon rubber tires 14, the vehicle being steered by angularly displacingone frame section with respect to the other by means of hydraulicactuators l6 interconnecting frame sections 10 and 12. The rear frame 12houses a power source 18 for propelling the vehicle 1 and for actuatingthe head-reach mechanism 2, processing unit 3 and magazine 4 throughappropriate power drive.

A control cab 20 is mounted for rotation on front frame 10 by means of aturntable 22. A vertically oriented mast 24 is carried outwardly andforwardly of the cab 20 by upper and lower horizontal supports 26 and 28respectively. Mast 24 rotates in the supports 26, 28 about a generallyvertical axis. Lever arms 30 are secured to the upper end of mast 24where the latter protrudes through and above the support 26. The ends ofthe arms 30 are connected to the structure of the cab 20 through a pairof hydraulic actuators 32. It will be appreciated from FIG. 1 thatoperation of actuators 32 will rotate the mast 24 about its verticalaxis and that the headreach mechanism 2, processor 3 and magazine 4directly or indirectly connected to the mast 24 will be swung in ahorizontal are relative to the cab 20.

The head-reach mechanism 2 is of pantographic layout so that theprocessor unit 3 is held generally vertical whether it is lowered to thecutting position, FIG. 1, or raised to the processing position, FIG. 2,by the mechanism 2. The headreach mechanism includes an upper beam 34and lower beam 36 maintained in spaced parallel relation. A centrallylocated spacer 38 is pivotally secured to the upper beam 34 by pins 40and to the lower beam 36 by pins 42. The outer ends of beams 34 and 36are spaced by and connected to a subframe 44 by upper and lower pins 46and 48. At the inner ends of the headreach mechanism 2, beam 34 ispivotally connected by horizontal pins 50 in lugs 52 secured to andextending from the mast 24. The inner end of beam 36 has spaced lugs 54which are pivotally connected to a mast lug 56 by a horizontal shaft 58.A pair of hydraulic actuators 60 are pivotally secured at their upperends to pins 62 on either side of the beam 34. At their lower ends,actuators 60 are pivotally attached to the shaft 58 intermediate thelugs 54 and the mast lug 56. As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, operation ofactuators 60 will raise or lower the head-reach mechanism 2 and theprocessor unit 3 and magazine 4 secured thereto.

TREE PROCESSOR The processing unit 3 is structurally illustrated inFIGS. 3-9 and operationally in FIGS. 10 and 11. Referring first to FIGS.3, 4 and a frame 64, C or U-shaped in the plan view of FIG. 4, issecured to the subframe 44 on the outer end of the headreach mechanism2. Frame 64 has a base 66 and side members 68 and 70, the latter beinginterconnected by two parallel shafts 72 and 74.

Two vertically oriented, parallel processor housings 76, 76 arerespectively provided with lugs 78, 78' of box structure (FIG. 5), whichare slidably mounted on shafts 72, 74. Additionally each lug is threadedto receive a lead screw shaft 80 rotated by suitable motor means 82.With opposite threads within lugs 78,78 it will be appreciated that,rotation of screw shaft 80 will reciprocate the lugs 78, 78 andprocessor housings 76, 76' toward or away from one another along theshafts 72,74, depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft 80.

Referring to FIG. 3, processor housing 76 includes, on its upper end, arotary fly cutter 84 having a plurality of circumferentially spacedknives 86 thereon. Rotatably mounted on and projecting from the sidesurface of the housing 76 are a pair of helical cutters 87, 88; an upperpair offeed rolls 89, 90; and a lower pair of feed rolls 91, 92. It willbe noted that housing 76 has an identical number of elements bearinglike reference numerals but with prime designations.

In the positions of FIGS. 3-5, the processor housings 76, 76' are opento receive a tree therebetween as shown in FIG. 1. In addition to thereciprocal movement afforded by the lead screw shaft 80, each housing76, 76 must rotate inwardly 45 with respect to one another so as toclose" upon a tree as shown in FIGS. 2, and 11. As illustrated in FIG.5, lug 78 encloses motor-means 94 having a gear 96. Gear 96 meshes witha gear 98 on the housing 76, when actuated by motor 94 rotates housing76' through 45. Lug 78 also includes identical motor-means andassociated elements for simultaneously rotating housing 76 so that theprocessor unit assumes the position of FIGS. 2 and 11. As seen in FIGS.1, and 3-5, when the housings 76, 76' are open" spiral cutters 87, 87

feed rolls 89, 89', 91 and 91' present a first group of elements withtheir rotational axis parallel but in a stacked relation one over theother. Spiral cutters 88, 88 and feed rolls 90, and 92 and 92' present asecond group of elements, normal to the first group and spaced from oneanother so that in a plan view such as FIG. 4, all elements form an openC configuratree in its side opening, motors 94 (FIG. 5) are actuated torotate the housings 76, 76' through 45 so that the spiral cutters andfeed rolls on housing 76 all lie normal to the corresponding elements onhousing 76' as shown in FIG. 11. Motors 82 then rotate a lead screwshaft 80 to bring the housings 76, 76 toward one another whereby thesurface of the tree is engaged at eight points about its circumferenceby feed rolls 89-92. Shears 104, 106 are then operated by actuators 108,110 to shear the tree from its stump, the magazine is lowered to itsFIG. 2 position and processing of the tree bole then begins as shown inFIG. 11.

Feed rolls 89 to 92' are rotated to draw the bole downwardly along theprocess path, gripping contact being maintained by constant torque onshaft lead screw 80. Spiral cutters 87-88' are rotated in the oppositedirection to remove the branches from the bole, as do the rotating flycutters 84 which remove branches that could otherwise jam on the headsof the processor housings.

PROCESSOR DETAIL The mechanism for rotating the operative elements ofthe housings 76, 76 is shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 inclusive. Referring firstto FIGS. 6 and 7, processor housing 76 shown in cross section includes afirst motor 112, detachably mounted in the housing by a removable boxstructure 114, and adapted to rotate the fly cutter 84 and spiralcutters 87 and 88. A second motor 116 is removably mounted in thehousing by box structure 118 and is adapted to rotate feed rollers89-92.

First motor 112 drives a spur gear 118 which is in mesh with and rotatesa spur gear 120 secured to the fly cutter 84. Gear 120 is in turn inmesh with and rotates a spur gear 122 on a shaft 124 which drives spiralcutter 87 through bevel gears 126 and 128 and also drives cutter 88 (notshown) by means of bevel gears 130 and 131. Three aligned shafts 132,134 and 136 are rotated by second motor 114 through spur gears 138, 140and 142. Shaft 132 has a bevel gear 144 which serves to rotate a meshingbevel gear 146 and its feed roll 89. The upper end ofshaft 134 rotatesfeed roll 90, not shown, by bevel gears 148 and 150; and shaft 136rotates feed roll 91 through bevel gears I52, 154 and also rotates feedroll 92 by bevel gears 156, 158 on its lower end.

It will be observed from FIG. 7 that the upper and lower sections of thehousing 76 are joined by a connecting portion 160 which rotatably mountsthe housing within the mounting lug 78.

FIG. 8 is a partial cut away view of spiral cutter 87 to illustrate thestructure thereof. A sleeve 162 has a flange 164 secured to the housing76 by bolts 166. A drive shaft 168 is centrally positioned in the sleeve162 by a ball race 170, bevel gear 128 being secured on the inner end ofthe shaft by a key 172 and nut 174. The outer end of shaft 168 has anintegrally formed flange 176 detachably secured to the spiral cutter bybolts 178 whereby rotation of shaft 168 effects rotation of the cutter.Cutter 87 comprises a cylindrical body 180 rotatably mounted on thesleeve 162 by ball races 182 and 184. The surface of the cylinder 180has a plurality of helical blades 186 which effect a combined slicingand shearing action in close proximity to the tree bole to remove thebranches therefrom.

FIG. 9 is a partial cut away view of feed roll 89, one of the eight suchrolls of the processor unit 3. The roll 89 is secured in position by asleeve 188 having a flange 190 mounted on the housing 76 by bolts 192. Adrive shaft 194 is centrally mounted for rotation in the sleeve 188 by aball race 196, bevel gear 146 being secured to the inner end ofshaft 194by a key 198 and a nut 200. The outer end of sleeve 188 has a gearedcollar 202 secured thereto and the outer end of drive shaft 194 isrotatably mounted in the collar by a sun gear 204 on the end of theshaft 194 and intermeshing planetory gears 206 on an end plate 208. Theroll 89 includes a cylindrical body 210 having a plurality of axiallyextending serations 212 which positively grip the surface of the treehole. The cylindrical body 210 is secured to the end plate 208 by bolts214 and is freely mounted on sleeve 188 by inner and outer ball races216, 218 respectively. It will be understood from FIG. 9 that cylinder210 of feed roll 89 is rotated by the drive shaft 194 via the gears 204,206 and end plate 208.

PROCESSED TREE STORAGE MEANS and The magazine 4 is carried by the frame66 and is operable to two positions, (a) substantially vertical as inFIGS. 2 and 11 while a tree bole is being processed and in whichposition the magazine receives the stores the processed bolts and (b)substantially horizontal when the processing unit 3 is engaging andsevering a tree, FIGS. 1 and 10, or when the magazine is unloading itscapacity of bolts (FIG. 17) which is the order of one-third cunitofprocessed pulpwood.

As shown in FIG. 11, magazine 4 includes two parallel standards 220, 222pivotally secured at their upper ends to the side members 68, 70 of theframe 66 and at their bottom ends by a plate 221. Frame 66 includesrearwardly projecting lugs 224 which pivotally mount the cylinders ofhydraulic actuators 226, the piston rods 228 thereof being pivotallymounted to lugs 230 on the magazine standards 220,222.

Operation of actuators 226 swing the magazine 4 to the horizontal orvertical positions of FIGS. or 11.

Referring momentarily to FIG. 16, the magazine 4 is subdivided into aprocess path 232 and a storage area 234. FIG. 11 shows that the processpath 232, indicated by a bolt T shown in phantom line, is defined byupper and lower arcuate feed arms 236, 238 and upper and lower pairs ofgate shafts 240, 242. The storage area 234 is defined by the gate shafts240, 242 and first and second pairs of cradle arms 244 and 246respectively. Before proceeding with a detailed description of themechanism for operating the feed arms, gate shafts and cradle arms, itwill be appreciated from FIG. 11 that as the tree bole is drawndownwardly by the feed rolls 89-92 and delimbed by the fly cutters 84,84' and spiral cutters 87-88, it is fed along the process bath 232 andis severed by shears 104, 106 at the desired length. From the positionof FIG. 13, the feed arms 236, 238 are rotated and the gate shafts 240,242 are opened (FIG. 14) so that the bolt T is kicked into the storagearea 234, the gates and arms sequentially returning to their formerpositions as shown in FIG. 15.

Returning to FIG. 11, the first pair of cradle arms 244 are pivotallymounted on standard 220 and are connected together by a member 248.Cradles 244 are operated from a fully closed position, FIG. 13, to afully open position, FIG. 17, by an actuator 250 pivotally secured atone end to an extension 252 of the upper cradle 244 and at the other endto a stationary arm 254 extending rearwardly from standard 222. In likefashion, upper and lower cradles 246 are connected by a member 256 andare open and closed by an actuator 258 mounted between an extension 260of upper cradle 246 and a stationary arm 262 extending rearwardly fromstandard 220. FIGS. 13l5 show that the storage area 234 is enlarged aseach bolt is transferred thereto from the process path 232 by thecradles 244, 246 opening slightly. This maintains control over the loadin the magazine 4 and may be governed, for example, by feedbackhydraulic circuitry between cradle actuators 250, 258 and the meansactuating the arcuate feed arms 236.

STORAGE FEED SYSTEM The mechanism for operating the arcuate feed arms236, 238 and the gate shafts 240, 242 is shown in FIGS. 12 through 12C,FIG. 12 showing standards 220 and 222 in phantom line and enclosingportions of the mechanism.

Feed arm 236 and gate shafts 240 are mounted in a pair of enclosures 264on standard 220 and 266 on standard 222. The lower feed arm 238 and gateshafts 242 are mounted in enclosures 268 on standard 220 and 270 onstandard 222. Hydraulic rotary actuators 272 and 274 (reference FIG. 11)operate the mechanism in the enclosures through drive shafts 276 and 278extending vertically within the interior of standards 220 and 222respectively. Each shaft 276 and 278 is secured to the vane of itsrotary actuator 272, 274 respectively and is mounted for rotation ateach end in enclosures 264-270. In addition, each end of each shaft 276,278 is provided with a helical gear 280 and a crank 282. The arcuatefeed arm 236 is positioned within guides 284 in enclosures 264, 266 andeach end of arm 236 has a helical gear 286 in mesh with the gears 280 ofshafts 276 and 278.

Gate shafts 240 are mounted for reciprocation in guides 288 ofenclosures 264 and 266, the inner end of each shaft 240 having a camplate 290 with a guide slot 292 therein receiving a crank pin 294 of thecrank 282. The description of the mechanism of shafts 240 and feed arm236 is also applicable to shafts 242 and feed arm 238 and thus will notbe repeated. It will be understood from FIGS. 12 through 12C thatoperation of the rotary actuators 272, 274 rotates drive shafts 276 and278 which in turn rotate feed arms 236, 238 while at the same timereciprocate gate shafts 240 242. This action of the magazine feed systemwhen a bolt is fed into the process path 232 results in the transfer ofthe bolt to the storage area 234 as shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15. Itwill be noted from FIG. 14 that as the gate shafts 240 open, the feedarm 236 pushes the bolt through the gate and against the cradle arms244, 246 which open up to accept the volume of the bolt introduced intothe storage area. Reverse rotation of actuators 272, 274 from their FIG.12C position return the arm 236 to its position of FIG. 12A and the gateshafts 240 are simultaneously closed and the arm 236 is ready to receiveanother bolt, FIG. 15.

The sequence of FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 is repeated until the magazine 4 isfull as shown in FIG. 16. Actuators 226 then raise the magazine to itshorizontal position in conjunction with the lowering of the head-reachmechanism 2. By rotating the cab 20 and head-reach mechanism 2 themagazine is unloaded at a primary landing 6 by operation of actuators250 and 258 as illustrated in FIG. 17.

OPERATIONAL SEQUENCE 1. Processor housings 76 are rotated to their openposition FIG. 3, and are spaced wide on shafts 72, 74 by motor 82 andscrew shaft 2. Magazine 4 is raised by actuators 226 to its horizontalposition, FIGS. 1 and 10;

3. The machine 1 is maneuvered so that the processor unit 3 ispositioned as in FIGS. 1 and 10 and the tree is engaged by the oddnumbered spiral cutters and feed rolls 87-91. The shears 104, 106 areopened and positioned at stump height;

4. Motors 94 rotate housings 76, 76' 45 so that the feed rolls embracethe tree above the stump level; motor 82 and screw shaft 80 drawhousings 76, 76 toward one another to center and engage the tree surfaceat eight locations;

5. Shears 104, 106 are actuated, severing the tree hole from the stump.The head-reach 2 raises the processor unit 3 and the tree bole securedtherein, FIG. 2. Actuators 226 lower the magazine to its verticalposition with plate 221 placed firmly on the ground by head-reachmechanism 2;

6. Shears 104, 106 are opened, feed rolls 8992' are rotated, feeding thebole downward along the process path 232; spiral cutters 87-88 and flycutters 84, 84 are also rotated delimbing the hole as it passes throughthe processor as shown in FIG. 11;

nun-H 7. At the desired bolt length shears 104, 106 are actuated tosever the bolt from its bole in the processor, the bolt T dropping tothe plate 221 as shown in FIG. 11;

8. Rotary actuators 272, 274 rotate feed arms 236, 238 and open gateshafts 240, 242, transferring'bolt to the storage area defined bycradles 244, 246, FIGS. 1315 and is repeated until the magazine 4 isfilled as in FIG 16.

9. When the magazine is full it is raised to its horizontal position byactuators 226, the machine 1 swings the magazine to a primary landinglocation and the cradles 244, 246 are opened (FIG. 17) to place theirload of pulpwood on the ground in an orderly manner for subsequentrecovery by a forwarder machine.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for processing trees comprising a mobile, ground traversingvehicle; a head-reach mechanism pivotally and rotatably connected at itsinner end to one end of said vehicle and extending therefrom; a treeprocessor unit mounted at the outer end of the head-reach mechanism,said processor unit including means to (a) grasp and sever a tree fromits stump (b) debranch said severed tree and (c) sever said debranchedtree into bolts of a desired length; and means carried by the processorunit for receiving and storing the severed bolts.

2. Apparatus for processing trees comprising a mobile, ground traversingvehicle; a head-reach mechanism pivotally and rotatably connected at itsinner end to said vehicle and extending therefrom; a tree processingunit mounted at the outer end of the head-reach mechanism saidprocessing unit including means to (a) grasp and sever a tree from itsstump; (b) debranch the severed tree and (c) sever said debranched treeinto bolts of a desired length; and a storage magazine carried by theprocessor unit for receiving and storing severed bolts from theprocessing unit, the storage magazine being movable to a first positionfor receiving bolts as the tree is processed and a second position fordepositing a plurality of bolts on the ground.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said head-reach mechanismcomprises a pantographic beam arrangement having a vertical mast at oneend, mounted on a substantially vertical axis to said mobile vehicle anda subframe at the other end for supporting the processor unit.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit includes aframe; a pair of housings mounted vertically in said frame; treeprocessing means on said housings; first motor means for reciprocatingsaid housings toward and away from one another; second motor means forrotating said housings from an open position in which said housingsreceive a tree therebetween and a closed position in which theprocessing means of said housings embrace said tree; motor means foractuating the processing means; and means for severing a tree from itsstump.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the tree processing meanscomprises debranching members and feed rolls for drawing a tree boletherethrough.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for receiving andstoring severed bolts comprises a magazine pivotally secured to theprocessor unit; cradle arms on the magazine for maintaining a pluralityof pulpwood bolts therein; means for swinging the magazine to asubstantially vertical position in which the magazine receiver boltsfrom the processing unit and to a substantially horizontal position, andmeans for opening said cradle arms to accommodate an increasing load andfor unloading the magazine when in said horizontal position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises foreand aft frame sections articulated together for angular relativemovement, a control cab mounted on the fore frame section; saidhead-reach mechanism being pivotally mounted to said cab for movement ina horizontal are about said cab and means rotatably mounting the cab 0nthe fore frame section.

8. Apparatus for severing and processing trees comprising:

a. a mobile ground traversing vehicle;

b. a head-reach mechanism pivotally mounted at one end about asubstantially vertical axis to said vehicle for movement in a horizontalare about the vehicle, said mechanism being of pantographic constructionfor movement in a vertical plane with respect to the vehicle;

c. a processor unit mounted on the other end of the headreach mechanismand including (i) means for shearing a tree from its stump (ii) meansfor feeding the tree bole generally vertically downwardly (iii) meansfor debranching the bole as it is fed downwardly and (iv) means forsevering the bole into bolts of a desired length;

d. and a magazine carried by the processor unit for receiving, storingand unloading bolts from the processor unit, said magazine being movableto a generally vertical position during processing of a tree bole and toa generally horizontal position during (i) severing of a tree from itsstump and (ii) unloading ofa plurality of stored bolts.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the processor unit comprises:

a. a frame secured to said head-reach mechanism;

b. a pair of vertically oriented processor housings;

0. support shafts in said frame and slidably carrying the processorhousings thereon in spaced relation for reciprocal movement toward andaway from one another;

d. motor means associated with the housings and the shafts for effectingsaid reciprocal movement;

e. each housing of said pair having a first group of debranching cuttersand feed rolls extending (i) outwardly of said housing and toward theother housing of said pair; (ii) and a second group of cutters and rollsextending outwardly from the housing and normal to said first groupwhereby a tree may be engaged by the first group and between said secondgroup;

f. motor means for rotating said housings inwardly toward one anotherwhereby said first and second groups of cutters and feed rolls lienormal to one another and embrace said tree;

g. tree shearing means; and

h. motor means to rotate said feed rolls to draw said tree downwardlybetween said housings and the debranching cutters and to actuate saiddebranching cutters.

10, Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said magazine comprises:

a. a pair of longitudinally extending parallel standards pivotallysecured to said processor;

b. gate members extending between said standards and dividing saidmagazine into a process path and a storage area;

0. feed arms defining said process path with said gate members and beingadapted to receive a tree bolt from said processor unit;

d. cradle arms defining said storage area with said gate members;

e. means for actuating said feed arms and opening said gate members totransfer a tree bolt from the process path to the storage area;actuators interconnecting said standards with the processor unit forswinging the magazine to a substantially vertical, processing positionand to a substantially horizontal; unloading position; and g. andactuators for opening said cradle arms so as to unload bolts in thestorage area when the magazine is in its substantially horizontalposition.

1. Apparatus for processing trees comprising a mobile, ground traversingvehicle; a head-reach mechanism pivotally and rotatably connected at itsinner end to one end of said vehicle and extending therefrom; a treeprocessor unit mounted at the outer end of the head-reach mechanism,said processor unit including means to (a) grasp and sever a tree fromits stump (b) debranch said severed tree and (c) sever said debranchedtree into bolts of a desired length; and means carried by the processorunit for receiving and storing the severed bolts.
 2. Apparatus forprocessing trees comprising a mobile, ground traversing vehicle; ahead-reach mechanism pivotally and rotatably connected at its inner endto said vehicle and extending therefrom; a tree processing unit mountedat the outer end of the head-reach mechanism said processing unitincluding means to (a) grasp and sever a tree from its stump; (b)debranch the severed tree and (c) sever said debranched tree into boltsof a desired length; and a storage magazine carried by the processorunit for receiving and storing severed bolts from the processing unit,the storage magazine being movable to a first position for receivingbolts as the tree is processed and a second position for depositing aplurality of bolts on the ground.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said head-reach mechanism comprises a pantographic beamarrangement having a vertical mast at one end, mounted on asubstantially vertical axis to said mobile vehicle and a subframe at theother end for supporting the processor unit.
 4. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said processor unit includes a frame; a pair of housingsmounted vertically in said frame; tree processing means on saidhousings; first motor means for reciprocating said housings toward andaway From one another; second motor means for rotating said housingsfrom an open position in which said housings receive a tree therebetweenand a closed position in which the processing means of said housingsembrace said tree; motor means for actuating the processing means; andmeans for severing a tree from its stump.
 5. Apparatus according toclaim 4 wherein the tree processing means comprises debranching membersand feed rolls for drawing a tree bole therethrough.
 6. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the means for receiving and storing severedbolts comprises a magazine pivotally secured to the processor unit;cradle arms on the magazine for maintaining a plurality of pulpwoodbolts therein; means for swinging the magazine to a substantiallyvertical position in which the magazine receiver bolts from theprocessing unit and to a substantially horizontal position, and meansfor opening said cradle arms to accommodate an increasing load and forunloading the magazine when in said horizontal position.
 7. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises fore and aft framesections articulated together for angular relative movement, a controlcab mounted on the fore frame section; said head-reach mechanism beingpivotally mounted to said cab for movement in a horizontal arc aboutsaid cab and means rotatably mounting the cab on the fore frame section.8. Apparatus for severing and processing trees comprising: a. a mobileground traversing vehicle; b. a head-reach mechanism pivotally mountedat one end about a substantially vertical axis to said vehicle formovement in a horizontal arc about the vehicle, said mechanism being ofpantographic construction for movement in a vertical plane with respectto the vehicle; c. a processor unit mounted on the other end of thehead-reach mechanism and including (i) means for shearing a tree fromits stump (ii) means for feeding the tree bole generally verticallydownwardly (iii) means for debranching the bole as it is fed downwardlyand (iv) means for severing the bole into bolts of a desired length; d.and a magazine carried by the processor unit for receiving, storing andunloading bolts from the processor unit, said magazine being movable toa generally vertical position during processing of a tree bole and to agenerally horizontal position during (i) severing of a tree from itsstump and (ii) unloading of a plurality of stored bolts.
 9. Apparatusaccording to claim 8 wherein the processor unit comprises: a. a framesecured to said head-reach mechanism; b. a pair of vertically orientedprocessor housings; c. support shafts in said frame and slidablycarrying the processor housings thereon in spaced relation forreciprocal movement toward and away from one another; d. motor meansassociated with the housings and the shafts for effecting saidreciprocal movement; e. each housing of said pair having a first groupof debranching cutters and feed rolls extending (i) outwardly of saidhousing and toward the other housing of said pair; (ii) and a secondgroup of cutters and rolls extending outwardly from the housing andnormal to said first group whereby a tree may be engaged by the firstgroup and between said second group; f. motor means for rotating saidhousings inwardly toward one another whereby said first and secondgroups of cutters and feed rolls lie normal to one another and embracesaid tree; g. tree shearing means; and h. motor means to rotate saidfeed rolls to draw said tree downwardly between said housings and thedebranching cutters and to actuate said debranching cutters. 10.Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said magazine comprises: a. apair of longitudinally extending parallel standards pivotally secured tosaid processor; b. gate members extending between said standards anddividing said magazine into a process path and a storage area; c. feedarms defining said process path with said gate members and being adAptedto receive a tree bolt from said processor unit; d. cradle arms definingsaid storage area with said gate members; e. means for actuating saidfeed arms and opening said gate members to transfer a tree bolt from theprocess path to the storage area; f. actuators interconnecting saidstandards with the processor unit for swinging the magazine to asubstantially vertical, processing position and to a substantiallyhorizontal, unloading position; and g. and actuators for opening saidcradle arms so as to unload bolts in the storage area when the magazineis in its substantially horizontal position.